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Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities
Research, tools and commentary on our federally funded, groundbreaking collaborative spanning 30 Minnesota communities from 2010 to 2013.
The Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) project was a multi-sector, comprehensive approach to rural Minnesota broadband adoption. In 2010, the MIRC coalition, comprised of 30 partners, was awarded $4.8 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant — a program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. MIRC-related work was completed spring 2013, and while the federal funding may be gone the work goes on at the community level and through the Blandin Broadband Communities program.
Communities looking to expand broadband in their area are welcome to use the following MIRC Broadband tools and documents
Access to Computers
Curriculum Tools
- Digital Literacy: basic computer, email, word processing. Available in English or Somali
Examples of Community Projects
- MIRC demonstration community project matrix
- MIRC Partners Map
- Living Connected in Benton County
- MIRC in the News (via Blandin on Broadband blog)
Reports & Lessons Learned
- Reflections on MIRC
- Community Guide to Broadband Policy Report
- MIRC Baseline Study Report, U of MN Crookston
- MIRC Final Study Report, U of MN Crookston
- Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities – Demonstration Communities Final Report, Intelligent Community Forum
- Bridging the Gaps Report, Main Street Project
- Summary: MIRC outcomes
More Information
Contact Us
Your feedback strengthens our broadband programs. Contact us to share your thoughts. You may also subscribe to our mailing list, or contact the following Broadband team members.
